National Geographic Student Expeditions - Alaska - Travel Programs for High School Students

The Expedition

In Alaska's undeveloped wilderness, towering peaks preside over massive glaciers, wild rivers cut through thick pine forests, and the Arctic tundra seems endless. Moose, bears, and caribou roam the land, while the waters teem with whales, sea lions, and seabirds. Yet the effects of climate change are more extreme here than in lower latitudes. Native Alaskan communities, as well as wildlife, are feeling the effect as glaciers recede and the permafrost melts. Discover Alaska's spectacular wilderness—and the forces that threaten it—through the lens of your On Assignment project: Photography, Wildlife & Conservation, or Climate & Geology.

Fairbanks and the Arctic Circle

4 days. Our adventure begins in the far northern city of Fairbanks. We'll get to know each other during an orientation covering Alaskan history, geography and wilderness skills. Then we'll start working in our On Assignment groups. Examine mammoth fossils and learn about native Alaskan culture, polar bears, gold mining, and the aurora borealis at the Museum of the North on the campus of the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, a world-renowned research center for Arctic wildlife and climate change. At UAF's Large Animal Research Station, encounter musk oxen, caribou, and reindeer. Then venture north to the Arctic Circle, stopping to pan for gold and visit the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. Set out on a hike over the tundra followed by a relaxing soak in a natural outdoor hot springs.

Denali National Park

7 days. From Fairbanks travel south to Denali National Park, a remote and unspoiled wilderness cradling the icy summit of North America's highest mountain, Mount McKinley. The park encompasses six million acres of sub-arctic taiga and tundra, and is populated by an astounding range of wildlife. From our base at the Denali Education Center at the eastern edge of the park, explore climate change and conservation in one of America's most pristine natural settings. Venture deep into the wilderness to observe and photograph herds of caribou, a moose wading in a lake, or a grizzly bear feeding on blueberries. Learn to track a wolf pack loping along a glacial riverbed, or catch a glimpse of a flock of white Dall sheep perched high on a mountainside. Trek to remote ridges to get a once-in-a-lifetime view of the colossal mountain the Athabascans call "the great one:" Denali.

Seward and the Kenai Peninsula

6 days. Head south to the mountains, fjords, and glaciers of the Kenai Peninsula. Spend a night in Anchorage and get acquainted with the native peoples of the north at the acclaimed Alaska Native Heritage Center. Then continue to our base in Seward, a traditional fishing village surrounded by glaciers and jagged peaks. Seward is the jumping-off point for exploring Kenai Fjords National Park, one of America's newest and most dramatic national parks. Paddle a sea kayak through the fjords, taking in the incredible scenery and spotting sea lions, otters, puffins, and orcas. At the Alaska SeaLife Center, the only coldwater marine science facility in the Western Hemisphere, learn about the region's incredibly rich marine life and the effects of climate change on the Bering Sea ecosystem. Hike into the heart of Kenai Fjords National Park, past towering blue-ice glacial crevasses, to the spectacular Harding Icefield, an immense glacial relic from the last ice age. Scan the cliffs for mountain goats, spot bright red salmon running in the river rapids, and watch for bald eagles and bears taking advantage of the easy snack. The adventure concludes with presentations of On Assignment projects. Fly home from Anchorage.

Note: This is a physically active program. Participants don't have to be experienced hikers but should be in good physical condition and enthusiastic about active wilderness exploration.

National Geographic Expert

Writer, photographer, and conservationist KIM HEACOX has lived in Alaska for 25 years and has written four books for National Geographic, most recently An American Idea: The Making of the National Parks. He is also the author of Alaska Light and the memoir, The Only Kayak: A Journey into the Heart of Alaska. A highly respected expert on Alaska and a gifted storyteller, Kim lives near Glacier Bay with his wife, Melanie, and their two kayaks. He will join the group in Denali National Park.

• Read an interview with Kim

Choose one of these On Assignment projects. Throughout your expedition, break into teams to delve further into your selected area of focus.

icon for Photography On Assignment Project PHOTOGRAPHY: Take advantage of long summer days to capture glaciers, fjords, and the immense snowfields of Denali. Zoom in on a bull moose or a herd of caribou sky-lined on a high tundra ridge, or try for a rare shot of a breaching whale or a bear fishing for salmon. Learn new photographic techniques, and develop a portfolio.

icon for Wildlife and Conservation On Assignment Project WILDLIFE & CONSERVATION: Observe bears, caribou, wolves, beluga whales, and other wildlife in their natural habitat; and learn to identify the plants and birds of the tundra and taiga. Talk to park rangers and conservationists about challenges and opportunities in Alaska's national parks.

icon for Climate and Geology On Assignment Project CLIMATE AND GEOLOGY: Track receding glaciers, and hike into the remote tundra to explore the effects of melting permafrost. Learn firsthand about petroleum development and climate change and native Alaskans' ongoing struggle for survival. Interview anglers, bush pilots, or cruise ship captains about the changes they've observed.

Your participation in a National Geographic Student Expedition provides support to National Geographic's mission of increasing global understanding through exploration, geography education, and research.